THE WILD FAUNA OP THE EMPIEE 



G5 



water running parallel to it. This was probably the continuation 

 of Khor Deleb. Wo negotiated it by means of the ' Berthon,' which 

 we had carried thus far. It was full of hippos, which are un- 

 doubtedly dangerous to small craft in these parts, but we drove 

 them to a respectful distance with a few shots, and crossed in 

 safety. Six miles further on we came to a second unfordable 

 khor, where the Nuers told us were many ' Boag,' the native 

 name of Cobus Maria. We saw none, but four very fine bull 

 elephants were standing in the marsh on the opposite bank. If 

 elephants are doomed, I will have no hand in it, and did not shoot, 

 but my daughter endeavoured to photograph them. Unfortu- 

 nately, though she had carried the camera as high as possible, it. 

 had got submerged in some of the deeper traverses and was use- 

 less. Other elephants were visible in the distance. We camped 

 on the banks of one of these khors, protected, as we hoped, by 

 gauze shelters from the mosquitos, but they emerged by millions 

 from the cracks in the cotton soil, and, so to speak, took us in 

 rear. There are very fine ' defassa ' waterbuoks hereabouts, and 

 Pease secured one over thirty inches. The alternate wading and 

 Walking on rough cotton soil is extremely destructive to boots and 

 shoes. I endeavoured to replace mine with moccasins of green 

 waterbuck skin, without great success. I suggest for this marsh 

 country an ample supply of canvas shoes with felt soles. How- 

 ever a man may be shod, the noise made in walking through 

 shallow water makes approach very difficult. As a general rule 

 Mrs. Gray's antelopes are hidden when standing in 'um suff,' as 

 the common reed-grass is called, which covers vast expanses, 

 but when a herd starts running a number of black points — the 

 tips of horns and ears — become visible, apparently skimming 

 over the top of the grass like a flight of swallows. Pease at- 

 tempted several approaches, always with the same result. I pre- 

 ferred what the Americans call ' sitting on a log,' which only 

 needs a stock of patience. I will describe my first successful 

 ambush. Some ant-heaps favoured it. After a considerable 

 interval, I saw a pair of horns approaching. The creature 

 came to the edge of the opening, and after standing sometime 

 at gaze came slowly on across the opening. Cobus Maria has 

 a curious gait, carrying neck and head very low, which is part of 

 its secretive habits. This one came within thirty yards before he 

 perceived us and trotted off. Though a male, lie had not the 

 distinctive colouring, sol did not shoot. My daughter, lying on the 

 Other side of the heap, next perceived a female and kid, which also' 

 came close to her. Some time after, Talib's sharp eyes picked up 

 something at a greater distance, and whispered ' Kebir ' (big one). 

 Getting another ant-heap between us, we ran in a stooping attitude 

 towards it, and again got into position. A fine pair of horns were 

 visible, moving slowly, and presently a black-and-white body was 

 rally exposed and fell to my shot. It was a good black specimen, 

 the size of an Egyptian donkey, with a very large white shoulder- 

 patch. 



